44 



The Parish Church of 8. Michael, Merc. 



the original position in 1870 : this gave place to the existing organ 

 in 1886. 



J erard the bedeman, who was doubtless stationed beneath the 

 organ-loft, probably had charge of the sanctus bell as well as the 

 organ bellows, as the marks of the ropes and the sqnint through 

 the mullion of the screen indicate that it was rung from this place. 



The present stalls in the choir were originally in two sets of three 

 each, and they are shown retained as returned stalls facing east- 

 wards on Mr. Wyatt's plan for the restoration of the Church in 

 1855, since which they have been altered and re-arranged. One 

 of the old stalls is separated from the rest and used as the Vicar's 

 seat on the south, and the other two of this set are joined to the 

 other three, making the row of five on the south side. The misereres 

 are carved to represent (1) a fox with foliage (new) ; (2) an angel 

 holding a shield and with side foliage ; (3) foliage ; (4) a bearded 

 head with foliage at sides ; (5) a Tudor rose and leaves ; (6) a head 

 with tongue and two sprays of foliage protruding from mouth, with 

 foliage at sides. The desk fronts on north and south sides are 

 original, although much, re-cut and re-faced. The ends, with their 

 poppy-heads are also original, but it is doubtful whether they occupy 

 their former positions. The Avestern ends are traceried only, but 

 each of the two eastern has a shield suspended from a human hand 

 and bearing the arms of Kymer, Avhich are previously mentioned : 

 the latter two are more likely to have been the ends of the desk to 

 the returned stalls and conspicuous " on entering the choir." 1 



The Jacobean seats in the nave are the original ones, cut down 

 and re-modelled to suit modern requirements : they were made by 

 " "Walter the Joyner " of Maiden Bradley, between 1638 and 1641, 

 when they cost £86 lis. 10 d. The following are the entries 

 referring to them : — 



£i 



" 1638. Item to the Joyner for the newe seates xiij." 



" 1639. To Walter the Joyner this year 1638 for the making and setting up 



£i s. 



of the new seates on the North side of the Church, xix. x." 

 " To WilTm Gough for the Joyners Diet while the Seates were setting 



up xiij. x." 



1 Hund. of Mere, p. 11. 



